Social activist Voon suggests all childcare centres, nurseries install CCTV cameras in their premises

KUCHING, Dec 29 2025: Social activist Voon Shiak Ni has urged the Welfare Department to make it mandatory for all childcare centres and nurseries to install  live CCTV cameras covering all areas in their premises.

Voon Shiak Ni: The frequencies of unannounced  inspections by the Welfare Department officials should be increased for stricter monitoring on the operations of these childcare centres and nurseries.

She said the footage must be retained for at least 30–60 days for parents and relevant authorities to access in the event of  any incident which needs verification.

“Any tampering with or disabling CCTV cameras should result in immediate licence revocation and legal consequences,” she said in a statement in a response to a shocking a viral CCTV footage which showed a baby abuse case in Petaling Jaya recently.

Voon said the frequencies of unannounced  inspections  by the Welfare Department officials should be increased for stricter monitoring on the operations of these childcare centres and nurseries.

She suggested that parents should be empowered to assist and be eyes and ears of the department, enabling them to play their role and be partners to safeguarding the safety of the babies at the chldcare centres and nurseries.

She said the measure of a society is how it protects the most vulnerable, saying that babies and small children deserve absolute protection in the environment they are settled in .

Voon said the Children Statistics Malaysia 2025 shows a 12.7per cent  rise in reported child abuse cases in Malaysia, excluding those which have gone unreported .

“I also seriously encourage the public to participate in the prevention of occurrences of child abuse cases,” she said, suggesting  that they should  be eyes and ears in their community and to report any case in their neighbourhood so to save abused children from their perpetrators, not only at childcare or daycare centres but also at home .

Voon said she is shocked to see a case from a viral CCTV footage which showed a six-month-old baby being thrown,  tossed and roughly handled by a caregiver at a nursery in Taman Desa, Petaling Jaya, Selangor.

She said the inhumane action of the caregiver has sent shivers down the spine of all parents who have entrusted their small kids at daycare centres .

Voon said there have been quite  a number of incidents of child abuses or negligences reported this year, including the latest one reported in Negeri Sembilan where a one year old baby died under the care of a nanny at an unregistered daycare centre and a post-mortem examination revealed injuries to the child’s abdomen .

Do something to help the elderly, with many obstacles, to receive their SKAS financial aid, Violet urges Fatimah

KUCHING, Dec 29 2025:  The state Ministry of Women, Early Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development has been urged to show compassionate to the elderly recipients of Sumbangan Keperluan Asas Sarawak (SKAS) who do not have smartphones.

Violet Yong: Some do not own smartphones, cannot navigate mobile applications or are chronically ill, bedridden or physically incapable of completing digital processes 

DAP’s Pending State Legislative Member (SLM) Violet Yong Wui Wui said she has submitted a letter to the minister Fatimah Abdullah  calling for an immediate tabling of a Cabinet paper to address a policy gap in SKAS which she had raised during the recent Sarawak Legislative Assembly (SLA) sitting.

“The letter also enclosed the names and particulars of affected eligible SKAS recipients who have requested that the assistance be disbursed directly into their bank accounts,” Violet said in a statement today.

“From the feedback received, there are many senior citizens who are fully qualified for SKAS yet unable to access the aid due to digital barriers.

“Some do not own smartphones, cannot navigate mobile applications or are chronically ill, bedridden or physically incapable of completing digital processes,“ she said.

Violet said SKAS is meant to support basic living and as such no eligible elderly person should be denied aid because of age, illness or digital limitations.

“I, therefore, urge for a state Cabinet decision to allow SKAS to be disbursed through bank accounts or other suitable non-digital channels for this group of eligible elderly beneficiaries.

“This is a practical, secure and compassionate solution that can be implemented in time for the 2026 roll-out,” she added.

 

Organisers of "foam party" in Miri have agreed to withdraw excessive elements, says tourism minister

 

KUCHING, Dec 29 2025: The organisers of a New Year’s Eve celebration in Miri have agreed to withdraw “elements” of the performance that are considered excessive and not in line with oriental customs and culture. 

Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah: Any entertainment programme must be scrutinized in advance by the authorities that give approval, including local authorities and the police.
 

Minister of Tourism, Creative Industries and Performing Arts Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said the decision was made as a result of discussions between the organisers and the Miri City Council following objections from various parties including non-governmental organisations (NGOs) as well as police reports submitted regarding the contents of the programme.

"As a result of the discussion, I was informed that the performance that was considered excessive has been agreed to be withdrawn," he said yesterday when met by the media at the Sports Village, according to RTM News.

He explained that the organisation of the New Year’s Eve celebration itself is not an issue and can continue, but the contents must be in line with the values, customs and sensitivities of the diverse community in Sarawak.

He stressed that any entertainment programme must be scrutinized in advance by the authorities that give approval, including local authorities and the police, to avoid contents that could spark anger and dissatisfaction among the people.

He also reminded all organisers to be more responsible and not present elements that contradict local culture even though the organisers do not receive allocations from the government.

Yesterday, 12 NGOs had expressed their objection to the holding of a ‘foam party’ for the New Year’s Eve celebration in Miri.

According to the Borneo Post newspaper, the group spokesperson Mohamad Abdullah Jamin said the NGOs had received feedback from the local community expressing unease about the event, said to take place at an open-air venue in the city this Dec 31, as promoted on social media.

He said the organisers had revealed that foreign performers would be invited.

“Based on the videos shared online, their performances seem to not be in line with local societal norms.

The NGOs had urged both the organisers and the authorities to reconsider the ‘foam party’ plan and adopt an approach that would ‘better reflect the identity, dignity and values of Sarawak society’.